January 14, 2012- San Francisco International Airport

Hotch leaned his head against the head rest on the Learjet and closed his eyes. This can't be happening, he thought, at least not like this. He was embarrassed at Strauss coming to get him like she was his mother. Doing it in front of his team members only made it worst. It destroyed him that he had lost control; control of his emotions, actions, and thoughts.

Strauss put her bag under her chair before sitting down next to Hotch. She watched the fear and frustration on his face before saying, "Aaron, this is not a punishment. This is being done because it would be best for you and your team." She reached over to squeeze his hand for support, but Hotch retreated his hand before she could. Hotch's stoic look disappeared and was replaced by teary eyes as he stared intently out the window. Strauss watched the man struggle to keep his composure before she squeezed his shoulder as the plane took off towards Quantico.

San Francisco Police Station

"Hey, Garcia. Anything on the connections to Seaside Park?" Reid asked the technical analyst through a webcam. Garcia returned the question with an angry glare.

"Getting that information is like finding a needle under a million haystack, sweetie. Hey, where is everyone?"

Reid began to chew his lip. "Well, Prentiss and Rossi went to go get some air. JJ is setting up a press conference with the chief of police. Morgan, well, I don't know what he is doing. We broke into a fight right before we called you so things are a little tense."

"What was the fight about?"

"I think Prentiss, JJ, and Rossi feel that Morgan betrayed Hotch by calling Strauss without talking to Hotch first. I feel that it was a good choice; he would have shut us all down if we went to talk to him like planned. I do feel that it was kind of abrupt. Strauss just showed and started reprimanding him. It was like she was his mom and he misbehaved. "

"He must be horrified. His job is his life," Garcia said. A beep came from one of her computer screens. "Ah, my little genius this is your lucky day. I just found that all of the victims had a membership at a gym located next to Seaside Park "

"Ok, thanks. That helps a lot."

Outside, Morgan sat on one of the steps leading to the police station. He needed a few minutes alone to deal with the day's events. Prentiss and Rossi were extremely angry with him to the point of not speaking to him. Receiving the Unit Chief Job was something he had not expected; Strauss never discussed it with him on the phone.

After watching a few cars pass, his cell phone rang. He saw that it was Strauss and answered, "Ma 'am."

"Hello, Agent Morgan. I was just calling to get an update on the status of your team."

Morgan took of his sunglasses and sighed. "Some feel that I made the right decision, but some are extremely angry with my actions. "

"Well that's to be expected, Agent Morgan. You have had a rough week. I chose you to be the Unit Chief because I believed that you would be able to deal with what has been going on with Agent Hotchner."

"Thank you, ma am. How is he?"

"He's clearly upset. He did not say anything the entire flight. Miss Garcia will be staying with him tonight. "

"Ok, that means he is in good hands. I also wanted to thank you for making the trip to San Francisco, ma am."

"No need. It had to be done. Good night, Agent Morgan."

"Good night ma am," Morgan stated as he heard Strauss hang up. He glanced down to his watch to see that it was seven o clock in San Francisco, meaning it was ten o clock in Quantico. We all need a break, Morgan thought as Prentiss and Rossi approached him, each with a cup of coffee in their hands.

"Meet me in the conference in five minutes," he instructed the two agents. Morgan immediately turned to go find JJ and Reid and hoped for a peaceful meeting.

After he found JJ, Morgan walked into the conference room to see Rossi, Prentiss, and Reid standing around a conference table. Morgan closed the door and said, "Ok, we all have had a rough day and we barely got anywhere on the case. I'm sending everyone back to the hotel to get some rest. We will all meet up in the morning around six. Any questions?" After a few seconds of silence, Morgan nodded in agreement and began to collect up his stuff. The other agents soon followed, allowing each to finally get an end of a very stressful day.

Quantico Virginia

"Sir, is there anything else you need me to do?" Garcia asked. She stood in the living room of Hotch's apartment. Hotch quietly stood by his bedroom door and nodded no. Garcia watched him then close the door silently. She had never seen him so upset in her six years at the BAU. He had not said a word to anyone since he had arrived home in Quantico. To Garcia, Hotch's somber expression and bitter silence was not a good sign.

Don't let me out of your sight! The Door! Garcia thought. She darted over to the door and knocked on it gently. When Hotch did not respond back, Garcia turned the knob and opened the door. She found him sitting at the edge of his bed with his go bag still in his hand. Garcia slowly walked over to him and said, "Hotch?"

Hotch looked up to her and said, "Yes Penelope?"

"Are you ok?" She sat down next to him and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah…I'm ok. Don't worry about me." Garcia could feel his arm trembling. She wrapped her arms around him and whispered, "Too late, sweetie."

An hour later, Garcia was lying on her back on the bed in the guestroom. She knew she probably would not fall asleep any time soon as she was worrying immensely about Hotch. With her headphones on, she started to hum to the music with her eyes closed. She made it through the second verse before she heard Hotch scream from his bedroom.

Garcia shot out of the bed and darted into Hotch's room. He was lying on his back with his right fist balled up. Hotch let out gasps of air as he gripped the sheets with his left hand. Garcia ran to his bedside and exclaimed, "Hotch!" She shook his shoulder. "Hotch! Aaron! Aaron!"

Hotch suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Garcia. As he tried to slow his breathing down, Garcia watched him reach for the scars where the Reaper stabbed him nine times. The reaper! flashed across Garcia's mind, Oh God, he's burning up as well.

"Hey, you're ok! It was just a nightmare," she told Hotch, who was starting to calm down. She sat down at the edge of the bed and said, "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No," Hotch sternly answered. He is putting up his walls again, Garcia thought.

"Do you need me to do anything?" Garcia expected him to decline like he always did, but was shocked when Hotch squeaked, "Stay with me."

Garcia smiled and pulled up the chair from his desk to the side of his bed. "Ok, I'll be right here."